There's No Place Like Home

Good Morning Petals,

It's been a while since we've sat down and had a good chinwag, so I thought I'd fill you in on my recent escapades - well, I'll keep it PG. I've just returned from two months in Corfu where I spent the summer at my yiayia's exploring, swimming and catching up with old friends. I go most summers and feel incomplete if I don't, there's something so nostalgic and magnetic about the island. As my lifestyle is quite nomadic, I've always believed that home isn't a place, it's a feeling. Corfu is the ignition.

I thought I'd share some photos I took this summer at my yiayia's house.

I daydream about Corfu and everything is alright.

Camera: Nikon S8000

This chirpy family of nesting swallows were my alarm for eight weeks! 

*Jurassic Park theme tune*

I LOVE this early noughties advert about a composer with writer's block getting a hint of inspiration from a flock of birds on his telephone wire ~ always cheers me up and reminds me of the very birds in this photograph!

Best.Day.Ever

Somewhere between Calabria and Corfu, the blue really begins - Prospero's Cell, Lawrence Durrell

Somewhere beyond the sea, somewhere waiting for me...

If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden - The Secret Garden

*The Goonies theme tune*

ALL HAIL ALOE VERA!

Favola mou ✨✨

Taken whilst our blue moon / Elvis party was in full swing.

Taken on a trip to Tatooine ;-) 

It's no coincidence that these were all taken at my yiayia's house - her home has a spellbinding energy which always inspires me to write/create art. Perhaps the mountain behind it has mystical powers, at least that's what I thought when I was little. Cheers to the white house on the hill that holds the key to my childhood!

Home is where you can drink wine from a goblet and The Drifters are always blaring.

Home is where embarrassing family photos are stored in a hat box.

Home is where your reading and writing nook are the same spot.

Home is where Daphne du Maurier keeps you cool on sweltering summer nights.

Home is where your neighbours tortoise, Speedy Gonzales, escapes to your garden for the afternoon.

Home is where the paintings on the wall look a little familiar and the signed names ring a bell.

Home is where your HP collection will always be waiting for you.

Home is where you collect sage from the garden for your morning brew.

Home is where oranges/lemons/kumquats/figs/apples are never too far away.

If you want to learn what someone fears losing, watch what they photograph. — Unknown

I'm head over heels in love with the island and counting down the seconds until I'm home again, whenever that will be. Hometown Glory by Adele (albeit dedicated to London) always resonates with me and leaves me aching for Greece.

Where do you consider to be 'home'?

P.S: I know this post won't be everyone's cup of tea and is a little off beat, but these shades of blue and green will keep me warm in the winter - we all need something to look forward to.

P.P.S: This episode of Charmed was next up on my flight back to Blighty, how fitting ;-)

Let Me Upgrade You, Audemars Piguet You

Happy birthday to our one and only.

Nothing but respect for my president!

Bibbidi-Bobbidi Bits & Bobs #9

Ello' Ello' Ello',

I thought I'd kick off this weeks swirls of inspiration with a recent article published in my local newspaper all about my grandparents band. Yep you heard right, my grandparents are in a band! The Oakmere singers consist of eighteen singers ranging from 68 - 90 years old, who raise money for local charities. My Grandad Leo, who used to DJ all across Manchester, now curates their gigs and my Nana Maureen sings and plays the tambourine. This article sharing how much $ they've raised has me bursting with pride! It just goes to show that it's never too late to dream :-)

This encouraging infographic hits the nail on the head! 

In my first ever BBB&B post last October, I declared my love for the charity Coppafeel. This week cosmic singer Rae Morris released her single Don't Go for the charity alongside a truly POWERFUL music video. Prepare yourself for some serious goosebumps...

 

On the subject of new releases, I had chills watching the epic trailer for Macbeth. I studied the Shakespearian play back in high school and am eager to watch this on the big screen. I think the casting director was bob on with Michael Fassbender as Macbeth and Marion Cotillard as Lady Macbeth ~ the costumes look equally mesmerising. 

Witches ✓ Murder ✓ The dichotomy of good and evil ✓

O! Full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!

Things without all remedy should be without regard. What’s done is done.

Blood will have blood.

On a lighter note, I'm on the hunt for a new coat at the mo and these three are calling my name. All dreadfully impractical for Manchester's Arctic weather but spellbinding no less!

1 / 2 / 3

Since my favourite holiday of the year Halloween is creeping up on us, I'm loving all things Gothic ~ basically anything that looks like it's straight out of Phoebe Halliwell's wardrobe!

1 / 2 (THIS CAPE-DRESS HYBRID IS EVERYTHING!)

1 / 2 / 3

As September is now in full swing, I'll be back off to begin my third year of uni in no time. I'm itching to get back to the big smoke and to be greeted by the inevitable wealth of weird and wonderful events painting the city. There's an Audrey Hepburn exhibition (July 2 - October 18) at the National Portrait Gallery which I'll definitely make time for.

I also want to catch Covent Garden's magical cloud of balloons installation by Charles Pétillon (August 27 - September 27).

Speaking of going back to uni, I plan on utilising the library the second I'm back. I'm dying to get my hands on Leopardi's infamous Zibaldone(!!!!) I also recently heard about The Golden Specific (part of The Mapmakers Trilogy) and after reading it's blurb was filled with curiosity.

"The Golden Specific continues the story of a fascinating fantasy world where time has shattered and so different geographical areas exist in time periods all the way from pre-human to the far future." ~ Anya @ On Starships and Dragonwings

At the beginning of August, my Instagram feed was bursting with cosmic images from Wilderness festival. It's essentially a three day food/wellbeing/yoga fest with a delightful array of bands, workshops and theatrics to keep mad hatters entertained. Here's a montage of their highlights ~ I'm in awe!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I've been besotted with Audrey Hepburn for as long as I can remember and happen to know her favourite poem. I thought I'd leave you with it as it's bursting with passion and almost transcendental:

Unending Love

"My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs,

That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms"